St. James Park (Bronx), late 1960s

[Hustla718]

Originally Posted by baylovers

Spring 1977.. I was 11 years old, so I did not have too much to say about the situation either. But for my family it was the best thing. While most of the Irish people we knew from Our lady of Refuge were moving north to Pearl River, Mahopac & Yonkers, we moved south to Rockaway. It was like paradise in comparison.

We could no longer play with our friends in the schoolyard or in Poe Park. There were almost daily shootings and stabbings. Drugs had taken over many of the streets in the neighborhood. It was no place to raise a young family if you had the option to leave. 1977... it was time to go. I can't believe it was 30 years ago.

I remember one night being awakened by gunfire. I called to my parents who said that it was fireworks or maybe I was dreaming. The next morning we awoke to a slew of detectives and crime scene tape on the rooftop that my bedroom window looked out to. It was time to go. I remember my father had caught two separate burglars in our 6 story walkup within a few months. Then it was our turn.... one night after a visit with relatives we came home to find our apartment was ransacked. All my mother's jewelry was gone along with anything else valuable they could stuff in a pillow case. It was time to go.

Yodel, times and places become stuck in a pendulum. It would be difficult for me to explain how bad it became right after we left. We had moved only 3 months prior to the blackout. Areas like Kingsbridge were never the same. I recall Channel 2 News doing a report about areas with the highest concentration of convicted felons & people on parole in the mid 80's. The nuber one spot area was Briggs & Bainbridge Ave between 194 St & 198 St. It was time to go.... but maybe the pendulum is coming back again. I hope you enjoy some of the good times we fondly remember.

Your from 194th and Briggs? Rough neighborhood. Nothing has really changed, in fact it's even more impoverished now.

Poe Park was recently renovated along with Saint James. Both needed it, they were beyond disrepair. At least over the last few years some of the drug activity has shifted from Poe Park, however I don't know how long that will last. The Valentine Avenue is still infested with drugs. I belive they removed the benches in the park, this shifted the dealers and addicts away. Nowhere to sit, funny how something that simple made a difference.

Saint James Park still has a lot of gang activity, although the Saint James Boys took a major hit. As you can see from recent events gang activity in the area is still heavy. It took multiple jumpings by the same group of 10 males before something was done, it took a death. Stuff like that is too common in the area.

Unfotunately since these areas still have problems, these recently renovated parks will continue to suffer. Most likely slowly falling back into disrepair.

These areas may never become decent areas in our lifetime, but at least you have good memories from the past.

[yodel]

Thank you for your responses. The memories you have are great. Whether or not the Bronx continues to improve depends on the people who live there, and also the new people who move in, and whether or not they see it as a place to stay or somewhere temporary to pass through. We personally wanted to stay in New York and have a house, and the Bronx was the only place in the city that we could afford. We intend to stay and yes we've already made a lot of great memories. Everyone in their right mind wants to live in a clean safe area. I think that people start to tolerate or engage in destructive behaviors when they think others don't care. On this site posters who live by Poe Park have said that it is improving and that they actually enjoy living there. Crime continues to drop every year and hopefully that will continue. I also hope that new people will move in and won't be put off by negativity. The Bronx will continue to improve if enough prople believe that it will. It will decline if more people believe that that is its future.

[briarwood]

I think the Bronx south of the expressway will come back before north of it. signs of life are appearing along the Concourse in the 160s.

[noelw346]

As a african american who grew up in the e 180st and honeywell av area in the 60"s i too remember fondlly how the nabe was. Two blocks from the bx zoo, which at that time was free every day, the nights sitting on southeern blvd in the summer time. The candy factory at e 180st and boston rd. We used to leave our doors unlocked, with no fear of intruders. On sunday morn the jewish bakery on 180st and Vyse av. The Howard Johnson"s on Southern Blvd @ Fordham Rd, and the minature golf course next to it. I also remember the predjudice of Little Italy. The RKO Chester @ West Farms Sq. The old bus garage at Boston Rd and 175st, which by the way in later years I ended up working out of as a bus operator. Working in my old nabe I too remember the old days of gone. My friends are all gone from the nabe. All of the buildings are either renovated from the original or torn down. The soldier"s cemetery on e 180st(Historical) is still there worst for wear. Nights of sitting in the park @ boston Rd and 180st looking at the waterfalls of the Bronx River flowing from inside the Bronx Zoo. The library on Honeywell av is still there, and my first public school P.S. 67 on Mohegan av. .......memories. The old Alexander"s on Fordham Rd and the Merit Farms deli @ Fordham and e 188st the Robert Halls clothing store at G.C. and 192st. Also the Shore Haven Country Club at Olmstead av and Castle Hill av. The building of CO-OP City and the loss of Fredom land.........memories .

[noelw346]

As a african american who grew up in the e 180st and honeywell av area in the 60"s i too remember fondlly how the nabe was. Two blocks from the bx zoo, which at that time was free every day, the nights sitting on southeern blvd in the summer time. The candy factory at e 180st and boston rd. We used to leave our doors unlocked, with no fear of intruders. On sunday morn the jewish bakery on 180st and Vyse av. The Howard Johnson"s on Southern Blvd @ Fordham Rd, and the minature golf course next to it. I also remember the predjudice of Little Italy. The RKO Chester @ West Farms Sq. The old bus garage at Boston Rd and 175st, which by the way in later years I ended up working out of as a bus operator. Working in my old nabe I too remember the old days of gone. My friends are all gone from the nabe. All of the buildings are either renovated from the original or torn down. The soldier"s cemetery on e 180st(Historical) is still there worst for wear. Nights of sitting in the park @ boston Rd and 180st looking at the waterfalls of the Bronx River flowing from inside the Bronx Zoo. The library on Honeywell av is still there, and my first public school P.S. 67 on Mohegan av. .......memories. The old Alexander"s on Fordham Rd and the Merit Farms deli @ Fordham and e 188st the Robert Halls clothing store at G.C. and 192st. Also the Shore Haven Country Club at Olmstead av and Castle Hill av. The building of CO-OP City and the loss of Fredom land.........memories. How the Door Men were posted in those beautiful art deco buildings on the G.C. And also the time when you could get a yellow cab in the bronx.

[Songbird42]

We all live with memories of The Bronx, how many nights I'd walk from 183rd St. and the Concourse over to Arthur Ave, or we'd walk all the way to Howard Johnson's on Southern Blvd, of course the idea behind that was to get a ice cream sundae with one of 32 flavors, it also helped that my mother was the head waitress there, back then, Wed. night was "all you can eat" Fish night, I was the one going around pushing the cart with fish, it was a popular night as all the guys from Fordham could eat till they burst and of course they were good natured with their kidding and joking around. Now many are grandparents as I am.

How many nights we'd sit in front of Roosevelt HS, watching the cars go by, and sometimes cars would stop and we'd chat with the fellows, today no one would think of doing that. Back then we'd walk back, not a care in the world stopping in front of the Paradise movie theater to pick up the early edition of the Daily News (papers were dropped out at 9PM). We'd walk in the dark, and never never did we once feel at harm. Different times I would say.

We'd take a walk up to St. James park, sit on the benches, no one would bother us, then over to Poe Park to listen to music. How many times I went up to the Armory for the different shows that were put on there, Grandpa took me to the Rodeo, I remember saw dust and horses. Another time the circus was there, later the boat shows/car shows.......now I understand the Armory will be renovated into a mall or possibly a school, I have pictures of me from age 4 and up taken in front of the Armory......fond memories. Unfortunately, time does not stand still, places change, sometimes for the good, sometimes for the worst. My hope for the Bronx is that she thrives and grows, and that those who do come to live will be able to make new memories, like those who came before.